The MongolZ defeated Vitality in the semifinals of Esports World Cup 2025 with a 2:1 score, advancing to the grand final of the tournament. For the Mongolian roster, this marks their second victory over the French team in the past month, underlining their steady progress on the global CS2 stage.
The path on the tournament
Two teams that have crossed paths multiple times over the past six months once again met on the big stage. The MongolZ looked confident from the very start of Esports World Cup 2025: they eliminated GamerLegion with a clean 2:0, and then swept 3DMAX 2:0 as well. These victories secured the Mongolian squad a well-deserved place in the semifinals.
Vitality also looked convincing. The French powerhouse showcased solid team play and strong individual form from their stars. Important wins over Liquid and TYLOO carried them to the semifinals, where they faced a familiar rival.
Battle for the Final
The series began on Mirage, where the first half ended relatively close — 7:5 in favor of The MongolZ. However, after switching sides, Vitality couldn’t maintain their footing and lost control of the game. The Mongolian squad confidently closed the map 13:8 to take the series lead.
On Dust2, the momentum shifted. Vitality managed to regroup, winning the first half 8:4. After the side switch, they kept up the pace and secured the map with a 13:9 score, leveling the series.
The decider on Nuke turned into a nightmare for the French roster. The MongolZ stormed ahead with a crushing 9:0 start, a deficit that was nearly impossible to recover from. They maintained their dominance and sealed the map 13:7, closing out the series 2:1 and booking their spot in the tournament final. There, they will face the winner of Aurora vs Falcons.
Player of the Match
The standout player of the series was Techno. His consistent performance across all three maps allowed the team to maintain momentum during crucial moments. His stats were impressive: ADR — 95.9, Swing +5.41%, rating — 1.5. Thanks to impactful entry kills and confident decision-making, Techno rightfully earned the MVP title of the semifinals.
A New Era for The MongolZ
The MongolZ claimed their second consecutive victory over Vitality, this time in the semifinals of one of the year’s most prestigious tournaments. The win highlighted their progress, cohesive teamwork, and strong individual play, cementing their position among the CS2 elite.
In the grand final, The MongolZ will face the winner of Aurora vs Falcons, while Vitality will continue their campaign in the third-place decider against the losing team from that matchup. For the French organization, this match carries extra weight — currently sitting third in the Esports World Cup global rankings, they trail Liquid by 450 points. A victory would grant Vitality +500 points, enough to overtake Liquid and secure an additional $1,000,000 prize for finishing third overall.
Reaction from Vitality’s Captain
After the match, Vitality’s in-game leader apEX addressed the loss and the criticism directed at the team on social media:
“Yes, we are not at our best. Yes, today two of our players are sick and have no energy. You can pour your hate on us or on me, we are used to it. But when I see people with the Vitality tag spitting on us… You really have no soul. Being a supporter when you win seven tournaments in a row is easy. You are all smart on Twitter, talking about Vitality as if you are the team. I, at least, realize that this is not what you expect, and neither do we.”
